Mount Cheeseman facts for kids

Mount Cheeseman is a fun place to ski and snowboard in New Zealand. It's a special type of ski area called a "club snowfield." This means it's often run by volunteers and has a friendly, community feel. It's located on the South Island, not too far from a town called Springfield. If you're coming from Christchurch, it's about an hour and a half drive away.

Mount Cheeseman Ski Field (2019) View of the first T bar

Skiing and Snowboarding at Mount Cheeseman

Mount Cheeseman is set in a basin that faces towards the south-east. This helps to keep the snow in good condition. The ski area has two main lifts called T-bars. These lifts pull you up the mountain while you stand on your skis or snowboard. There's also a smaller tow lift, which is perfect for beginners learning how to get started.

Slopes for Everyone

The ski runs at Mount Cheeseman go from 1570 metres up to 1840 metres high. This offers a good range of slopes for different skill levels.

• About 15% of the slopes are great for beginners. These are gentle and wide, perfect for learning.
• Half of the slopes (50%) are for intermediate skiers and snowboarders. These runs are a bit steeper and more exciting.
• The remaining 35% of the slopes are for advanced riders. These are the steepest and most challenging runs on the mountain.

Some of the slopes are also groomed. This means a special machine smooths out the snow, making it easier and more fun to ride on.

Places to Stay

If you want to stay right at the ski area, Mount Cheeseman has two lodges. The Snowline Lodge can sleep up to 68 people. It's a great place to stay warm and relax after a day on the slopes. There's also the Forest Lodge nearby, which can host 38 people. Staying on the mountain means you can wake up and be ready to ski!

Who Was Thomas Cheeseman?

Mount Cheeseman is named after a very important person named Thomas Frederic Cheeseman. He was a famous botanist, which means he studied plants. Thomas Cheeseman was also the curator of the Auckland Museum. A curator is someone who looks after a museum's collections. He even received a special award called the Linnean Medal for his work in science.

Images for kids

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  Mount Cheeseman base building (left) and the Snowline Lodge (right). (2021)

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  Looking down on the Mount Cheeseman ski field

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  Mt Cheeseman carpark (2021)